Omaha daily bee., 1887-03-02
Senate Proceedings.


LINCOLN. Neo., March Especial Tele-
gram to the BEE.l-A petition from Wymore
Offering $40 acres OF land and $500 for the
location oil the soldiers home was read and
referred to the committee of military affairs.
House roll 3. repeating the law relating to
registers in Plattsmouth was ordered TO a
third reading.
Mr.. Brown, as chairman of the special com.
mittee to report upon unnecessary employees
and committee rooms of the senate reported
that they found no further need for rooms
outside the capitol, and recommended the
rent b. stopped thereon. They named fifteen
employees and recommended their discharge.
They also recommended that the Standing
committees discharge unnecessary employees
of their committees.
The lieutenant governor recommended the
passage OF a law limiting the number OF EN-
plOyes OF the senate. Quite a number OF the
employees had been appointed b. him, all OF
whom were appointed upon the urgent re-
quests Of senators only. Those necessary
and most competent should De retained lie
added that he would decline 10 siZn vouchers
for extra work OF employees, for they were
well paid for the services rendered, as many
had little TO do the first half OF the session.
After considerable discussion the report OF
the committee was adopted. Ii is safe to
predict that the standing committees will be
exceedingly slow To discharge their hangers
on, as nearly every time they hold their
place as the price OF political debts. The gust
OF economy j. quite likely To blow over and
the dust settle down, not TO again be dis
turbed.
The senate again resolved itself into
committee OF the whole, and the rrSt bill to
be considered was that extending the peni-
mark moved that 1t be recommended 10 pass.
MI Duras submitted an amendment 10
strike out all after the enaHting clause and
insert on! IN substance providing that pro-
posa!s for bids BE- published in Omaha lin
coin and Chicago papers, and that the con-
tract he awarded to the lowest res pou Sib!e
bidder lie moved its adoption and made a
strong argument in its favor.
MI Smell was satisfied that the present
contract was fair ana reasonable lie had
visited the peuitentlary and examined thor
ou- MY into the important features of It's
infringement. lie gave figures to show that
TEN and II had been shown Ihat the welfare
OF the conyicts had been dny guarded.
Mr.. Fuller thought the terms OF
;as ,.,t contrast 1lir1. ~ We're not as li5sral
York rs basis. the pTesen, contractors
would make too nucn money even though
the state might not he able to maintain the
cOnYicts as economically a her.
The senate took recess until o'clock
pending consideration OF the bill.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At O'Clock the senate committee OF the
whole resumed consideration OF the peniIent
against extending the contract thirteen years,
thereby taking the matter out OF the hands OF
the legislature. He was in favor OF the
amendment of tie gentleman from Saline
and II that should not carry, he would sub
nit an amendment limiting the contract 10
i've years. lie gave additional figures or the
New \ oIk penitentiaries showing tile prorits
aceTulng 10 that state under the system in
vogue there, as against the contract system
lie also called attention 10 the Tccolhmenda-
ton by the board Tor additional cells and
wanted to know why this was made in the
face OF the agreement OF the assignee 10 build
such cells.
MT. DlTas opposed the bill because the sem
ale had no assurance that the present lessee
would not assign to another patty al such
nguTe that the prisoners could uot be as well
cared Tor as By the lessee. This brought up
the humane phase OF the question on the
treatment of prisoners. lie held thai il the
contract should be assigned for a con stieFa-
tlOn by the lessee, the sub-eOutraetor would
be in the same position a the org nal lessee.
who might take the lease al q less amount
Hence he argued thai the state should aiyer-
tise for bids, that the most might be secured
for the least outlay by the state
MI. AeIklejOhn said that under the act Of
lsl7 the hoard of public lands and buildings
was given the right 10 lease prison labor in
thls state. This act provided practically the
same A. the amendment OF Mr.. Duras. The
contract WAS entered into by the board, and
~ lSsS u Was extended by large majoTities of
TIE house and senate. This extension IN
eluded the proyiso that additional cells
should be constructed, and il lad been asked